Thanksgiving dinner conversation

If you just spent your holidays with your aging parents, you probably worried (or maybe even talked about) the set up for their final arrangements. Maybe you are already in charge of their affairs because they cannot take care of certain things by themselves anymore…

If you are one of the few lucky ones to know what is going on with your parents’ estate planning, and where their documents are located, I would like to congratulate your parents! Most of the people I have spoken to were not that fortunate when something happened with their loved one. This is a topic that we don’t usually talk about. However it is very necessary, since death is the only certainty we have in life. And whether we talk about it or not, someone still has to deal with it -  either us while we are still of sound mind and body, or a loved one, when we are not around anymore.

So, let me ask you: when was the last time you talked to your family about your estate or your wishes (should you not be able to express them)? And if you told them what you wanted in case you become incapacitated, did you put that in writing? And, most importantly, do they know where the paperwork is (if you have it)?

Most Americans don’t have their wishes written down. And, unfortunately for the families left behind, of those who have it in writing, many don’t tell their family where the paper are.

If you are a grown child of an aging parent who mentioned a long time ago that they want to be cremated, or that they don’t want to be kept on life support… maybe you can ask them if they still feel that way now. And maybe the next time you see them, you ask them to put it in writing. Also, make sure to ask where the papers are located.

When adult children move out, the parents move things around the house, and some of the things that get moved, are the important papers. Once you move out, you may not know where your parents keep their paperwork. It is always a good idea to check with your parents where their papers are now located.

If you are participating in the gratitude challenge from earlier this month, maybe something to be grateful for is the fact that you are still capable to take care of all your important documents and don’t have to leave your family to deal with everything in their time of grief. And then get it taken care of NOW.

What are you grateful for TODAY?

This is the month of Thanksgiving – the month of Gratitude. Not that we should not be grateful all year long… But in case you kind of forgot this year… let’s talk GRATITUDE today. It is not too late to start now. And if you read this post, I hope you take me up on the challenge I will issue at the end of it.

For now, let’s get started on what is the connection between money and gratitude. And how can your gratitude and appreciation for the things you have and the things you are able to do in life can translate in more money for you.

Tony Robbins often says “Where your energy goes, that grows.” That is true. We are beings made of energy and can influence the energy of our surroundings. Therefore, if you focus on plenty you will have plenty, and if you focus on scarcity, you will have scarcity. I know that I always say that my focus on sharing my thoughts is more on the practical side of money and I will get to that in a second. Though I need to make clear the fact that if you believe you have enough, that there is enough out there for you, then you will have it. Sometimes it may not seem like it, and that is the toughest time to believe. However, that is necessary for you to achieve.

When you believe it, then you can achieve it – may IT be money, a career or any personal goal. So that is why it is important to not just do the mechanics, but also get our brains and our feelings involved. When we start the day off with a good thought and happiness for the things that will come our way, we get more things that can make us happy. When we are grateful for what we currently have in our life – and we all can find at least one thing that we like and we appreciate – we will attract more things that we like and appreciate.

Zig Ziglar always said that if you want to lose weight, you cannot think like a fat person. Your brain does not understand the word NO, so it will bring into your life more of the things you are thinking about. So you cannot think like a poor person, and I believe we are all rich in our lives. You may say that is not the case with you but I know that money is not the only thing that measures the riches. And I will be the last person to tell you that you should not focus on money – after all, this is a blog about MONEY. All I’m saying is that you need to start somewhere.

Think about the things you have in your life that you are grateful for, and not the debt or the bills or the worries. Think of the good you will do with the money coming into your life, and be grateful you are here today to have a chance to work towards that good. And more good will come your way.

So my November challenge for you is to write down 3 things you are grateful for. And not just one time but every morning before starting your day, for the rest of the month; or the rest of the year if you are even more courageous. And then, come back and leave a comment with the 3 things that are on your list that day, or the most frequent ones. I would like to know and be your cheerleader.    

Money Mondays Episode 6

spreaker.com/show/money-mondays

Check out the new episode to learn more about a topic you might find scary... Budgeting. We are helping you make friends with your budget, so you can achieve your goals and take confident steps toward your financial serenity. Emerald Sparks shares her money story, and you can learn how a young woman was able to buy her first car while in college, without having to take on a car payment. Can you learn anything from her story?